Before 1935, amino acids were studied mainly because they constituted part of the protein molecules. Later they were found to be important nutritive agents. Investigations on nutritional requirements of young rats showed that tryptophane, lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, leucine, isoleuclne, threonine, methionine, valine and arginine are Indispensable components of a diet. The removal of any one of these amino adds, except arginine, from the diet leads to a nutritive deficiency, accompanied by rapid deoline in weight, loss of appetite and eventual death. More recently, it haB been pointed out that a tryptophane deficiency In the diet of rats gives rise to profound disturbances; and it Is now known that the presence of arginine Is essential for fertility and the absence of valine causes muscular tension (Rose, W.C. and Eppstein, S.A. J. Biol. Chem. 127 : 677-684· 1939.)· This ohange of view has shifted interest to large scale preparation of amino acids either by hydrolysis of proteins or by total synthesis. One of the two main objects of the present investigations was the synthesis of amino acids. The other object was the synthesis of pyrazolones and the determination of their ultraviolet and infrared absorption spectra. Aminopyrazolones have a strong antipyretic action (Valyashko, N.A. and Bliznyukow, V.I. J. Gen. Chem. U.S.S.R. II : 23-40, 1941.) and are also useful for colour photography (British patent 478,990.). They are closely related to amino acids because they can be obtained from the same starting materials and have some similar properties. / Québec Université Laval, Bibliothèque 2018